Elías López, a Spanish jesuit, adresses the issue of discerning conflicts within groups and communities. He highlights the importance of collective discernment of conflict itself as a path to healing and regeneration of communion – an essential foundation of participation and mission within the church. Drawing on experiences in diverse contexts such as Mexico, Peru, Tanzania, and Spain, Father López illuminates the fact that discerning conflicts helps restore relationships fractured by violence, injustice, and abuses of power. He explains that conflicts are often managed in a evasive, submissive, or confrontational manner, but for true transformation, a climate of trust and security must be established to allow for authentic negotiation and collaboration.
He emphasizes the need to step back and deeply reflect before rushing to resolve or reconcile conflicts, advocating a spiritually grounded approach rooted in Ignatian spirituality. This process involves reconnecting with God, with oneself, with others, and with creation through the stages of forgiveness, humility, and discernment, ultimately leading to a disruptive yet gentle confrontation with structural violence, inspired by the example of Christ.
Father López further explains that conflict transformation requires integrating structural measures – such as justice, power-sharing, and communication – with profound spirituality. The goal is to evolve relationships from competition, avoidance, or submission to collaboration based on discerned power, in the image of Christ’s reconciliatory power.
He outlines four key elements for discerning reconciliation: truth, justice (particularly restorative justice), coexistence, and communion. This process leads to communal participation that allows the church to become a “field hospital” healing internal and external wounds.
Finally, Father López calls on all Christians to embrace the vocation of conflict transformation and reconciliation, echoing Pope Francis’ call not to abandon this mission. He invites participation in an international network dedicated to synodal reconciliation, emphasizing the collective wisdom of God’s people to heal a wounded world and church.
